Met officers face fast-track hearings after Panorama investigation
Ten Metropolitan Police officers are to face accelerated misconduct hearings following a BBC Panorama investigation into racism and misogyny at Charing Cross police station, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said.
A misconduct process began after an undercover BBC reporter heard officers calling for immigrants to be shot, revelling in the use of force and being dismissive of rape claims.
The IOPC said it had sufficient evidence to show officers breached professional standards.
Rachel Watson, director general of the police watchdog, said she was "appalled" at the report and said "immediate action" to enable the officers' dismissal would be taken at the "earliest opportunity".
She said the hearings would send "a clear message that the type of behaviour seen in the documentary is taken extremely seriously".
Eight serving Met officers, a former Met Police constable, and a police constable who moved from London to serve with Gloucestershire Police will be subject to the accelerated disciplinary hearings, the IOPC said.
The IOPC also said:
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he wanted officers responsible for "appalling behaviour" exposed by the BBC to face hearings as quickly as possible.
He continued: "Londoners would expect nothing less and for those found responsible to be exited from the Met and off the payroll as soon as possible."
BBC Panorama also recorded one off-duty officer calling Algerians and Somalis "scum", and making reference to there being an invasion of the UK by migrants.
Another officer was heard bragging about a colleague stamping on a detainee's leg and laughing about the suspect screaming.
After Panorama concluded its undercover reporting, the BBC sent a detailed list of allegations to the Met before the material was published.
The force then suspended eight officers and one staff member, and took two more officers off front-line duties.
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